Impatiens plant named ‘Boddblredbi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Double  Impatiens  plant named ‘Boddblredbi’, characterized by its compact, mounded and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; large double red and white bi-colored flowers; freely flowering habit; and flowers positioned above and beyond the foliage.

Botanical designation: Impatiens walleriana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Boddblredbi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of DoubleImpatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens walleriana, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Boddblredbi’.

The new Double Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Lompoc, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop new compact and freely-branching DoubleImpatiens cultivars with large double flowers, excellent branching andattractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Impatiens originated from a self-pollination made by theInventor in February, 2003, of a proprietary Impatiens wallerianaselection identified as 2IM314-6, not patented. The cultivar Boddblredbiwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant withinthe progeny of the stated self-pollination in a controlled environmentin Lompoc, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings propagatedin a controlled environment in Lompoc, Calif. since 2003 has shown thatthe unique features of this new Double Impatiens are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Boddblredbi has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Boddblredbi’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Boddblredbi’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofDouble Impatiens:

-   -   1. Compact, mounded and outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Large red and white bi-colored flowers.    -   5. Double flower form.    -   6. Freely flowering habit.    -   7. Flowers positioned above and beyond the foliage.

Plants of the new Impatiens differ from plants of the parent selectionin flower form and coloration as flowers of plants of the parentselection are single in form and have solid red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Double Impatiens can be compared to plants of theDouble Impatiens cultivar Boddblred, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.12,521. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lompoc, Calif., plantsof the new Double Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivarBoddblredbi in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Double Impatiens were more mounded and not        as upright as plants of the cultivar Boddblred.    -   2. Plants of the new Double Impatiens were more freely branching        than plants of the cultivar Boddblred.    -   3. Plants of the new Double Impatiens and the cultivar Boddblred        differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Boddblred had        red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Double Impatiens. These photographs show the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Double Impatiens.

The photograph at the bottom of sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Boddblredbi’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up view oftypical flowers of ‘Boddblredbi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe plants grown in Lompoc, Calif.during the winter and spring in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse andunder conditions and practices which approximate those generally used incommercial Double Impatiens production. During the production of theplants, day temperatures ranged from about 21° C. to 24° C., nighttemperatures ranged from about 16° C. to 18° C. and light levels rangedfrom about 4,000 foot-candles to 8,000 foot-candles. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants. Singleplants were grown in 15-cm pots and were about 14 weeks old when thephotographs and the detailed description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana cultivar Boddblredbi.-   Parentage: Self-pollination of a proprietary selection of Impatiens    walleriana identified as code number 2IM314-6, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About four weeks at            21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form.—Compact, outwardly spreading and mounded plant            habit.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous and            freely-branching growth habit with about 15 basal branches;            secondary and eventually tertiary branches forming            potentially at every node; dense and bushy growth habit.            Pinching, that is removal of the terminal apex, is typically            not required, but will enhance branching.        -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 44 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 18.5 cm. Diameter: About            1 cm. Internode length: About 3 cm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: 147C tinted with 183B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 7.5 cm. Width: About 4.6 cm. Shape: Elliptical to            somewhat spatulate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Crenate with sparse ciliation. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: Darker than 147A.            Developing foliage, lower surface: 145B. Fully expanded            foliage, upper surface: 147A; venation, 147C. Fully expanded            foliage, lower surface: 147B tinted with 183C; venation,            147B. Petiole: Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: 148C.        -   Flower description.—Flower type and habit: Numerous and            consistently large double flowers. Flower buds open similar            to a rose in fullness; flowers rounded. Typically two            flowers arranged in axillary clusters. Freely flowering,            usually about eight to ten flowers and flower buds per            lateral branch. Flowers positioned above the foliage and            typically face mostly outward. Flowers last about five to            seven days under greenhouse conditions. Flowers not            persistent. Flowers not fragrant. Natural flowering season:            Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In the garden,            flowering is continuation through the spring and summer.            Flower size: Diameter: About 3.7 cm. Depth (not including            spur): About 1 cm. Flower buds: Length: About 1.5 cm.            Diameter: About 1 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 53D and 54D.            Petals/petaloids: Quantity/arrangement: About 28 per flower;            imbricate. Length, outer petals: About 2 cm. Width, outer            petals: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Cordate. Apex: Emarginate.            Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening,            upper surface: Centers, 65D; towards the margins, 53C. When            opening, lower surface: Centers, 155D; towards the margins,            53D. Fully opened, upper surface: Centers, 155D; towards the            margins, 54D to 53B. Fully opened, lower surface: Centers,            155D; towards the margins, 54A to 53D. Sepals:            Quantity/arrangement: Five in a single whorl; one modified            into an elongated spur. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About            9 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: 145D; midrib, 145A. Color, lower surface:            56C. Spur length: About 3 cm. Spur diameter: At flower,            about 2 mm; at apex, less than 1 mm. Spur color: 145B.            Peduncles: Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: 145C. Reproductive organs: Flowers            fully double, all stamens and pistils transformed into            petaloids. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit production have not            been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Impatiens.

1. A new and distinct Double Impatiens plant named ‘Boddblredbi’ asillustrated and described.